Wayne County, Mississippi Demographics 2026
Wayne County, Mississippi has a population of 19,699, the 46th most populous county in Mississippi. The median household income is $36,791 and the median home value is $88,000. The poverty rate is 22.9%.
Wayne County Quick Facts
Median Household Income
Median Home Value
Economy & Housing
Household Income Distribution
Detailed income brackets
Employment
Housing Overview
People & Demographics
Age Distribution
Race & Ethnicity
Diversity Index
Moderate diversity with one or two groups making up the majority.
State average: 55 | National average: 61
Education
Educational Attainment (Adults 25+)
Cities & Places in Wayne County
| City | Population | Median Income | Poverty | Home Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Waynesboro | 4,552 | $30,910 | 34.6% | $84,400 |
| State Line | 853 | N/A | 31.9% | $54,600 |
| Clara | 354 | N/A | 0.0% | $86,700 |
| Buckatunna | 297 | $95,933 | 2.4% | $110,600 |
Explore Mississippi Rankings
Population Overview
Wayne County is located in Mississippi with a total population of 19,699. It is the 46th most populous county out of 82 in Mississippi. The county encompasses 4 Census-designated places.
Age Demographics
The median age in Wayne County is 39.1 years. This is 2% higher than the state median of 38.4 years.
Economy, Income & Housing
The median household income in Wayne County is $36,791. This is 33% lower than the state median of $54,915. It is also 53% lower than the national median of $78,538. The poverty rate stands at 22.9%. This is 20% higher than the state poverty rate of 19.1%. With more than one in five residents living below the poverty line, economic hardship is a significant challenge for the community. The unemployment rate is 7.9%. This is 31% higher than the state rate of 6.0%. The median home value is $88,000. Housing costs are 45% lower than the state median of $161,400. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.4x, Wayne County is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 88.3% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 27% higher than the state average of 69.5%.
Race & Ethnicity
The largest racial or ethnic group in Wayne County is White (non-Hispanic), making up 56.7% of the population. Black or African American residents account for 37.1%. The Asian population (0.1%) is well below the state average of 1.0%.
Education
16.7% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 31% lower than the state rate of 24.2%. Nationally, 35.0% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 84.0%.
Data Sources & Methodology
All figures for Wayne County come from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates (2019-2023), with comparisons drawn against Mississippi and national averages from the same dataset. See our methodology page for how each metric is defined, or data.census.gov for official tables with margins of error.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the population of Wayne County, Mississippi?
Wayne County has a population of 19,699, making it the 46th most populous county in Mississippi.
What is the median income in Wayne County?
The median household income in Wayne County is $36,791 with a poverty rate of 22.9%.
How many cities are in Wayne County, Mississippi?
Wayne County contains 4 Census-designated places.